Paris attacks: Update 

The death toll from the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday, November 13, is 130. Eight of the attackers were killed; seven are reported to have set off explosive vests. At least 180 people were injured, including 99 who remain in a critical condition.


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The Council of Ministers, convened by the French President, met at midnight.

The Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior and Minister of Justice, Minister of Justice, issued decree declaring a state of emergency, taking immediate effect throughout French Metropolitan territories and Corsica. The state of emergency permits restrictions to the movement of people and the establishment of protection and security zones.

A second decree was also adopted to implement enhanced security measures in all towns of Ile-de-France. The government has announced temporary closures of theatres and meeting rooms, demands the surrender of weapons, allows for the arrest of any individuals whose activities are deemed dangerous and enhanced powers for administrative searches.

Last night, the President announced the immediate restoration of border controls, a measure that had been planned ahead of the COP 21, the climate event being held in Paris this December. Customs at borders have also been mobilised.



Schools, colleges and schools and universities will be closed this Saturday in Ile-de-France and school trips cancelled. Museums, libraries, gymnasia, swimming pools, food markets and town halls will also be closed today. Only essential services were running at the town halls, along with marriage ceremonies.

The government has mobilised hospitals and activated the ‘White Plan’. This provides for hospital organisation in a disaster or emergency, readying medical facilities for a large influx of wounded. It involves sending anaesthetists and emergency doctors to specific sites for onsite triage, and organises hospitals to receive large numbers of injured people, calling in doctors and nursing staff and setting up more hospital beds. It also deals with logistics such as medical supplies, office equipment and liaises with morgues to meet increased priority needs.

A specialist unit to help victims has been set up with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Health, in collaboration with the Prefecture of Police. An extra 1,500 soldiers were mobilised.

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Facebook launched its Safety Check tool to allow people to let their friends and loved ones know that they were OK. Users can check on people and will receive notifications when their friends mark themselves as safe.

Last night, the Police told people to stay at home and not go out, advising all establishments that were hosting members of the public to increase their security and to shelter those in need, as well as halting all gatherings and events.

Parisians were tweeting, using the #PorteOuverte to offer shelter to those people trapped in Paris with nowhere to go as the incidents took place, though some users found that the hashtag was overwhelmed with people tweeting about it and how inspirational it is, which obfuscated messages from people offering or in need of shelter.

Here is what is known so far:

• Six simultaneous attacks took place in Paris on the evening of Friday, November 13.
• Three explosions were set off in Saint-Denis, near the Stade de France, which was hosting a friendly football match between France and Germany. It is believed that the blasts were caused by two suicide bombers and a further device.
• Five other locations were affected, though the sequence of events remains unclear.
• Two restaurants – Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon, both on Rue Bichat, in the city's 10th arrondissement.
• There were also attacks on the Rue de Charonne and Boulevard Voltaire.
• At least three terrorists took more than 100 people hostage at a music venue, Bataclan, where a concert was being held, before they began killing them; it is thought that at least 118 people died. Police stormed the venue and are reported to have killed four terrorists during the assault. Some reports say that the attackers detonated explosive vests.
• A few hundred yards from the Bataclan, the terrace of the Casa Nostra pizzeria in Rue de la Fontaine au Roi was targeted.
• Shootings were also reported at the central Les Halles shopping centre and at Le Pompidou and Louvre, but they are now believed to have been false alarms.